IDNO
P.85676.ACH2
Description
On Catalogue Card for duplicate print P.261.ACH1: “The young men exercising their privileges.”
Large group of Aboriginals, with many of the women carrying babies and bundles on their backs. They appear to be shepherded from the rear by a group of young men banishing spears, clubs, and shields, and whom are annotated as being “young men exercising their privileges”. This means that the young men can now use their weapons as they like, can avenge insults and can choose a wife. To show their newly acquired independence they chase their parents, relatives, the doctors and all the others, waving their weapons, torches and flames. The knocked-out teeth are either buried, thrown into the water, or hammered into the bark of tree trunks. [JD 23/8/2007, updated WV 6/4/2009]
Place
Oceania Australasia; Australia; Victoria; Darling River; Murray River
Cultural Affliation
Named Person
Photographer
Muetzel, Gustav [Artist]
Collector / Expedition
von Blandowski, William [Blandowski Expedition to the Lower Murray River, 1857]
Date
1861; 1862
Collection Name
Haddon Collection
Source
?Haddon, Alfred Cort (Dr)
Format
Print Black & White
Primary Documentation
Other Information
P.85635. to P.85723. were tied together in a bundle.
Bibliographical Reference: Blandowski, William von, 1862. Australien in 142 Photographischen (Unpublished), with the caption “Aborigines of Australia, Plate 216. William v. Blandowski, Australia. The young men exercising their privileges”. The image is signed “G.M.61”. [JD 23/8/2007]
Bibliographical Reference: For discussion of authorship see: Allen, H. 2006. Authorship and ownership in Blandowski's Australien in 142 Photographischen Abbildungen. Australasian Historical Archaeology 24:31-37. [Jane Lydon, Monash University, 8/7/2009]
CUMAA Exhibition: P.84112.ACH2 to P.85713.ACH2 were on display in the SSL as part of the Brook Andrew ‘The Island’ Exhibition, 24th June - 27th September 2008. [JD 25/6/2008]
Publication: Blandowski, W. 1862. Australien in 142 Photographischen Ahbildungen. Gustav Neumann, Gleiwicz. Edited by Harry Alien. Translated from the German by Lillian Barton. Translation Copyright: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2007. with the caption:
“94. The young men can now use their weapons as they like, can avenge insults and can choose a wife. To show their newly acquired independence they chase their parents, relatives, the doctors and all the others, waving their weapons, torches and flames. The knocked out teeth are either buried, thrown into the water, or hammered into the bark of tree trunks. After the warrior has died the tooth in the tree is charred and it remains as a remembrance for the bereaved: sometimes the teeth are given to friends living faraway as a souvenir or a as a sign of gratitude. This ceremony, which resembles the "supere virilem togam" of the Romans and our confirmation, is known about because of the records of Sir Maria Collins [sic]. The Aborigines remain silent about it and consequently some things are still unknown. Drawing by G. Mützel.” [WV 6/4/2009]
This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Jocelyne Dudding 23/8/2007]
This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Aboriginal Visual Histories Project, Monash University. [Wonu Veys 6/4/2009]
FM:220326
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